The Fall 2023 issue is jam-packed! Cover boy HARRY SMITH shines thanks to a cheeky, never-before published photo by Allen Ginsberg. We celebrate the life and work of the self-described “ethnopharmacologist” just in time for the release of John Szwed’s illuminating biography and Smith’s first one-person art exhibition, at the Whitney, with three killer, well-illustrated features (on his Anthology of American Folk Music, an interview by Marc Masters with Szwed, and a terrific dive into Smith’s relationship with fellow visual artist and filmmaker Jordan Belson by Raymond Foye). Also in this issue: Andy Beta on the reissue of a forgotten LOU REED record. Excerpts from two revelatory works—ANDY ZAX’s Extinctophonics, and CHRISTINA WARD’s Holy Food. Kathy Lindenmayer witnesses a show by BOYGENIUS. An archival interview with fabric arts pioneer and Bauhaus OG, ANNI ALBERS. An illustrated ADVANCE BASE tour diary by Owen Ashworth. Tamara Palmer considers the oddball career arc of ORBITAL. v Andy Beta goes deep on TETSU INOUE. Nate Lippens goes off on RENE RICARD and other obsessions. And Michelle Dove on CAT POWER’s sense of humor! Plus illustrations throughout by MARLY BEYER; and columns by LUCY SANTE, MIMI LIPSON, DWIGHT PAVLOVIC, and editor MIKE McGONIGAL; tributes to SIXTO RODRIGUEZ, ESP SUMMER, and PEE-WEE HERMAN; and the triumphant return of the UNSTAPLED column, with reproductions of a contemporary basketball fanzine.

The cover feature celebrates the enduring, luminous genius of DOLLY PARTON, with a revealing conversation between Caryn Rose and Lynn Melnick on how her music quite literally saved Melnick’s life. ALSO IN THE ISSUE: OCTAVIA BUTLER – The very full transcript of editor Mike McGonigal’s lengthy, in-depth talk with the sci-fi feminist visionary, from 1997. The entire transcript has never appeared in print. ROLIN-POWERS – The great Michelle Dove on what makes these avant-folk lovebirds tick, and why you should care. THE CLEAN + HAMISH KILGOUR – An epic, archival interview with the band from 15 years ago, plus a fresh look thanks to Michael Galinsky at why Hamish meant so much to so many. The Clean were our favorite contemporary rock band. FRED TOMASELLI – Many pages of his delightful reworkings of New York Times front pages, plus an insightful interview with one of our finest contemporary artists. CRAZY DOBERMAN – Erick’s Bradshaw delivers an epic, well-illustrated tour diary of a brief jaunt with these noise greats. Plus also – Composer TAYONDAI BRAXTON by Katy Henricksen! – a meaty, beautiful feature on DR. PETE LARSON by Fred Thomas, worlds collide! – An amazing LUCY SANTE column! – Cassette tapes! – Reissue of the issue is the ‘Saturn 2’ comp of obscure Midwestern ‘90s shoegaze! – The Bay Area’s deliriously good new band GALORE by Jessica Beard! – A beloved celebrity writes in to Mimi Lipson’s advice column! – A lengthy excerpt from a great unpublished novel by DAVID GORDON! – Editor Mike McGonigal’s tribute to Tom Verlaine! – And we think that’s everything, hard to really know, as we always pack so much into every issue because we love you!

Maggot Brain is a quarterly magazine edited by Mike McGonigal, a prominent writer from Detroit. The magazine is full-color and consists of over 100 pages filled with exceptional content, including art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more. Its unique feature is that it solely exists in print form. Contents of Maggot Brain #13: The cover showcases a fresh design, as the magazine's logo changes every three issues. It highlights a captivating live photograph of the iconic musician Prince.

Highlighted columns in this issue: A delightful contribution by Lucy Sante, a renowned contemporary nonfiction writer who has been featured in every previous edition, making her our favorite. The return of the hip-hop column, featuring Paula Perry this time. An insightful reissue column focusing on the band Moss Icon from the 1990s, written by Fred Thomas. Mimi Lipson's exceptional advice column. A feature on Kim Jung Mi, a Korean pop psych legend. Dorothy Berry shares her experiences as a Black individual in experimental music spaces. Maggot Brain #13 is now available, and the magazine is thrilled to present its readers with this exciting edition. The new cover design perfectly complements the stunning live shot of Prince, and readers can expect a diverse range of engaging content within its pages.

Maggot Brain is a full-color, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content – art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more – with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page.

ON THE COVER: This issue is dedicated to the memory of astral traveling saxophone colossus PHAROAH SANDERS, with a tremendous evaluation of his most important work by the great music writer Andy Beta as the cover feature, rare images by Leni Sinclair, and a brief remembrance by film director Jeff Feuerzeig.

COLUMNS: - Lucy Sante - New column is about her collage practice, which was unknown until recently. Unsurprisingly it’s great work. - Mimi Lipson – Returns with another advice column filled with warmth, humor, and even advice.

JAZZ ROUNDTABLE – with Ben Jaffe, Sam Cohen, Bekah Flynn, and Makaya McCraven: New Orleans’ entire history as refracted through the work of Charlie Gabriel of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, an absolutely deep and important piece we are so stoked for.

THINKING FELLERS – An overview related to new reissues, written by none other than your favorite writer from Bananafish.

SOME CHURCHES – Amazing images of small churches, rural and urban, from the collection of the Library of Congress.

ALSO FEATURING: MICK COLLINS – Tremendous career-spanning feature on the Gories/Dirtbombs frontman by the great RJ Smith. LAMBCHOP – A great new album for Merge and an expansive theater piece Kathy Lindenmayer goes deep with leader Kurt Wagner. XV – Detroit’s new no wave supergroup deconstructs an interview, with musician Adam Taub. GHOST RIDERS – ‘60s/‘70s North American downer psych-pop/ garage “Coming of Age Garage Ballads,” Glen Morren turns in a lengthy overview. ERNEST HOOD – A feature on the heralded Pac NW ambient composer, amazing ephemera to choose from courtesy the RVNG peeps. THE HI RHYTHM SECTION - Tennie, Charles, and Leroy! An often hilarious feature by Jason Gross from Perfect Sound Forever. EDEL RODRIGUEZ – Contemporary Cuban-American graphic artist interviewed by Britt Daniel from Spoon – they’ve collaborated together. WEDNESDAY KNUDSEN – An overview of the work of this genius rural Massachusetts- based contemporary zone folk goddess, by Michelle Dove. ALPACA BROTHERS – In depth feature by Matt Goody (whose new book on Flying Nun’s history is a must). MATTHEW DICKMAN – The great skater poet and poet/skater, introduced by Alex Behr. CHARLES GILLAM SR – Gabe from Desert Island interviews the New Orleans-based music obsessive and folk artist. KING KONG – Former Homestead Records honcho Ken Katkin is here with ten trenchant observations on a reunion show by Louisville’s finest.

Cover art by Detroit-based graphic artist Lucy Cahill depicts Wanda Jackson as an alien because why not; with additional recent works by her inside the issue.

Glasgow’s justly beloved Belle & Sebastian, hot on the heels of a US tour and their best record in ages, deliver unto us decades’ worth of posters and ephemera, with an interview with Suart Murdoch on the history of the group’s aesthetics.

Novelist and longtime friend David Gordon lets us run the full text of his archival talk with celebrated painter and author Duncan Hannah (RIP – and yes he goes into detail about the Lou Reed incident described in Please Kill Me).

Kevin Esquire spent hours with Motown’s almost-star from the 1960s and ’70s, Christina Carter, and we have unpublished archival images and many amazing anecdotes.

Speaking of Motown, did you know that the son of the great Marxist/ Black liberation activist CLR James was in “mixed race” band Odyssey, who had a record on Motown? We have a great feature on that.

Fascinating discussion between guitarist-singer-songriter-innovators Chris Forsyth and Steve Wynn.

We have an amazing excerpt from Ben Berton’s new book on Dan Treacy and the TV Personalities, detailing how the first 7” came together and John Peel inadvertently named the band.

Nate Carlson goes deep on the Tony Iommi era of Black Sabbath.

Why Buffy Saint-Marie matters, now more than ever, by writer and musician Emily Pothast.

One of our favorite writers, Sara Jaffe, tells us how her own grandfather wrote the song “I’m My Own Grandpa”! No, really! That alone is worth admission.

Plus also too – there’s a terrific and long and excellently illustrated feature on the country and experimental steel guitarist Barry Walker Jr by Tom Humphrey. Our SF Indie Scene Report: 2022 is so well done that it’s going to knock your socks off. Plus Lucy Sante and Mimi Lipson and the tape column and Katie Lass on her soon-to-be classic ‘Hypnopomp’ LP and the great Jay Ruttenberg on Sessa, whew. Plus also of course beautiful images galore, and more besides.

Maggot Brain is a full-color, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content – art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more – with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page. The cover feature is an epic, really long timeline of images and interview with the modern king of arts portrait photography, Michael Lavine. 

Amazing archival images by Gail Butensky and reflections on Pavement + what we think is the band’s first new interview in a decade in anticipation of their reusion shows and events later this year

•Tom Scharpling talks about prog rock with Matt Berry

•a lengthy interview with the SF-based dreamy pop band Cindy by editor Mike McGonigal + Reuben Radding’s killer photos and review of a recent show in Brooklyn by Chicago’s Irreversible Entanglements

• Ana Gavrilovska on why sax player and drone composer Lea Bertucci matters +Sara Jaffe on how essayist Aisha Sabatini Sloan is a genius

The Winter 2021/22 issue of Third Man Books & Records’ MAGGOT BRAIN magazine (DEC/ JAN/ FEB) is extra packed with killer stuff.

• THE FRONT COVER is a gorgeous 1981 backstage photo of LOU REED, subject of a phenomenal feature by former NY Rocker contributor LISA JANE PERSKY

INSIDE you will also find:
• GRATEFUL DEAD: KURT VILE tries to explain them to none other than TOM SCHARPLING
• A special new piece about the making of the Velvet Underground’s LOADED
• MYRIAM GENDRON: Track by track guide to her highly anticipated second album
• LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY: Reprint of the best feature we ever read about him, by ERIK DAVIS
• KINKE KOOI: Recent works on paper
• MICHAEL HURLEY: Talks to old friend TARA JANE O'NEIL on Hurley's first studio album in years
• DOUG HENNING: The magician’s radical roots in Canada’s thriving 1970s prog/glam scene
• SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: Why she rules so hard, but there’s no need to call her the “godmother of rock 'n' roll” again, thanks
• GRETCHEN GONZALES DAVIDSON: The mystery and mastery of Detroit’s drone warrior, by Destroy All Monsters’ CARY LOREN
• THE GOATS: The 1990s’ most forgotten hip-hop collective?
• DEAN WAREHAM: A multi-page comic strip by MARLY BEYER, on drinking coffee with Dean and Britta and why his new solo record is so excellent
• PHEW: Japanese experimental artist gets the ANDY BETA treatment
• ORCHESTRE TOUT POUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP by the great SARA JAFFE

Maggot Brain is a full-color, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content – art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more – with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page.

This issue contains pieces on: Bikini Kill, Boris, Endless Boogie, New Kingdom, The Clean, ELO, Archie Shepp, Echo and the Bunnymen, Primal Scream, The Guerilla Girls, Planetary Peace

ON THE COVER:
Amazing unseen image of Bikini Kill live at CBGB in 1990, by MIKE GALINSKY, with accompanying lengthy photo essay exploring indie-rock in the early 1990s, including behind-the-scenes, unpublished black-and-white film images of Sonic Youth, Unwound, Mary Timony, Sleepyhead, Half Japanese, and more.

Maggot Brain is a full-color, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content – art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more – with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page.
Cover story: Why feminist punk pioneers the Raincoats still matter.

• Unseen, amazing photos of AC/DC from their first US tour in 1977.
• Celebrated indie auteur filmmaker Jim Jarmusch’s playful newspaper collages -- great interview plus lots of never before seen images!
• Brilliant Americana guitarists Marisa Anderson and William Tyler on their debut collaboration.
• Composer Terry Riley and percussionist Hamid Drake on the importance of husband and wife spiritual jazzers Moki and Don Cherry.
• 14 pages of rare comics by Pee Wee's Playhouse designer Gary Panter -- Jimbo goes to jail!
• Mike Turner talks.

Maggot Brain is a full-color, quarterly magazine edited by noted Detroit scribe Mike McGonigal: 100+ pages packed with phenomenal content – art, music, literature, unpublished archival material, and more – with a simple promise to only exist on the printed page.

CONTENTS
● LUC SANTE on 'Crawdaddy' magazine
● Debut publication of often hilarious and always droll memoirs by STUART MOXHAM (Young Marble Giants, Gist, solo, etc)
● Murat Cem Mengüç' dramatic tale of when SUN RA and the Arkestra visited Istanbul, Turkey in 1990
● The fantastic and true story of electro-pop pioneer, runway model, and Eve Babitz-ish character ANN STEEL, which has never fully been told before now. ● In conversation with comedy guru TOM SCHARPLING in advance of the publication of his moving and hilarious new autobio.
● Archival interview by Steve Lafreniere with 'Honeymoon Killers' star SHIRLEY STOLER.
● Overviews of new music from DAVID NANCE, PATRICIA BRENNAN, and PHAROAH SANDERS with FLOATING POINTS. We're so enamored with the Floating Points/Sanders collaboration that we had no less than Andy Beta go off on it at length, for what is our first "real" record review (as we're a quarterly, that's not something we'll do too often but the stars aligned.)

OVER FEATURE is a three-parter on MOONDOG. Our editor’s phone interview with him from 1998, some amazing never-before-seen-images, and crucially this series of archival interviews from 1953.

SHANA CLEVELAND The singer-songwriter / La Luz leader’s hand-written / illustrated tour diary chronicles a European tour with her own newborn baby, and it’s really unlike anything you’ve seen or read before. 

GAINESVILLE RIOT ‘88 On tour supporting ‘Bug,’ the immense DINOSAUR JR’S laconic wall of sound helped to start a riot at their show in a Florida university hall. Thankfully our old pal Kevin Arrow was there with slide film in his camera to capture the event. These images have never been seen before.